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Saturday, 31 December 2016

Seals in Skegness (blog post here), loafers in the leaves (blog post here), my new motto, Tilly's last photo, our living room at Christmas, the Red Arrows in Cromer (blog post here), the local church looking majestic in the summer, a glorious 5am glow (blog post here), and my second cross-stitch attempt (blog post here).

2016 has come to an end and I'm very, very grateful. It was a weird year for us all (especially in regards to worldwide politics and incessant celebrity deaths, bleugh) but I can't say it's been the worst for me personally.

I did three pretty big things this year:

I dropped out of uni - I wrote a helpful post about it here if you're thinking of dropping out or if you've already done it and want some reassurance.

I started taking antidepressants (SSRIs) - I don't think I've mentioned that on the blog before but there you go.

I hated 2016 at first because I felt like dropping out of uni was a huge step backwards. Even though I wasn't happy at uni whatsoever, I was going forwards and that's all that mattered, but it turns out it's not all that matters. I was miserable and deep down I just wanted to go home. I felt like a fraud being at uni - I just didn't feel like I belonged there, like I'd somehow scammed my way in. Everyone else knew more than me and was more experienced than me and I know that sounds pessimistic but it was true. I was surrounded by people who had just walked out of sixth form with a Creative Writing or English Lit A-level and I had walked out of college three years prior with a Creative Media Production BTEC. I was good at writing, but it was just a hobby and not something I'd studied in depth at college. I knew jack all compared to the rest and it was so depressing.

When I got home it all felt right again. I'd taken a big step backwards but it was a good step backwards. Once I got home I didn't care about anything or what anyone thought, I was just relieved to be happy and comfortable again. Not long after I'd moved back I went to the doctors, something I should've done years ago but never felt I could. Kids - if you're not mentally well please go to the doctors as soon as possible, dealing with it alone and without help - whether help is medication or CBT or both - is super crappy, trust me!!

Since starting my job in April, I've just been focusing on work and enjoying the quiet. I love turning up to work, doing my job, and going home to chill out and do whatever I want. It's so freeing and I love it. I've been trying to practice mindfulness and slow living since dropping out of uni - it's not easy, but doing a little bit at a time makes such a difference.

Had a few nice trips this year - got to visit my dad twice down in Norfolk, visited York a few times (as a tourist), and spent some lovely days in Bakewell being surrounded by the breathtaking Peaks. More trips in 2017 please!

There was one bad thing that happened this year - I lost my cat Tilly in October. She ran away and hasn't returned, so for all we know she's found new owners or she's passed away. We honestly don't know. I cannot put into words how much I miss her, but things like this happen all the time and all we can do is just hope she's alright wherever she is. I've included the last picture I took of her in the first collage above. I don't want to dwell on the sad things too much, so I'll end this here. I'm still keeping my fingers crossed that she rolls up at the door one day pretending like nothing even happened. Typical cat.

2017 resolutions? Probably to eat better. I don't want to diet, but I'd like to eat healthier meals and probably walk to work more often. I'd also like to continue to take it easy and live slowly. That's all I want to do. I have no plans for 2017 yet so for me it's a fresh, open book. I suppose all we can do is see what happens! So, cya 2016. It's been interesting.

Wednesday, 28 December 2016

Hi!

We took off to York yesterday to do some sale shopping. I'm not a big fan of the post-Christmas sales - some people get weirdly aggressive and there's just too many folk about to truly enjoy it. Unsurprisingly, York was really busy, but I did manage to do a fair bit of shopping without having someone's elbow in my face and without waiting in a queue for half an hour!

I love buying CDs. I don't really have space for them anymore but there's just something I really like about physically holding music.

Bloom has received high praise in the blogosphere, and with it having a couple of quid knocked off I thought I'd pick up a copy. The book on mindfulness looked like a cute read too especially for £5 in the sale, so I added that to the book pile.

My brand new Primark bedding is now on, my Soak and Sleep pillows I ordered last week arrived this morning, and I'm currently about to pop on a CD to listen to while I browse for iPads online because I'm 99% sure mine has kicked the bucket. 😓 Apart from the dying iPad, it's been a pleasant Wednesday so far.

Done any sale shopping yourself? I'm not doing any more now until the new year. I daren't brave those crowds again.

Saturday, 24 December 2016

Hope you all have a lovely Christmas and New Year. Spend time with your family, eat lots of good food, and relax. 'Tis the season to chill out on the sofa and watch telly with a tin of Quality Streets on your lap.

I'll be back blogging some time before the new year at some point, but until then I'll be stuffing my face with pigs in blankets, doing an unhealthy amount of online shopping, and hibernating in a mountain of blankets.

Friday, 23 December 2016

Hi!

I've been working on this little foxy fella for just over a week now for my Secret Santa recipient this year (my boss - no pressure then!). She likes foxes at the moment, so I thought I'd stitch her one to hang in her new house.

I wasn't sold on the grey outline around the white parts at first, but the Aida cloth is off white and the tail and face didn't stand out enough in bright light. I could've used a different coloured Aida cloth but I didn't have anything on hand that was the size I wanted so I worked with what I had. I liked how it turned out - the whole piece fits perfectly inside a dinky embroidery hoop and has a bit of candy-cane twine on the top so it can be hung on the wall.

I am so pleased with this piece I'm ever so slightly miffed I have to give it away(!) Although it will be going to a good home.

Definitely need to pick up some more small hoops - I want to make something like this for myself to hang on my bedroom wall. I was thinking about which cute animal I can do next and I'm swaying towards doing a baby penguin or a wee little duckling because baby birds are too cuuuuuute.

"Sometimes, I’m the mess. Sometimes, I’m the broom. On the hardest days, I have to be both."

— Rudy Francisco

"It is awful to want to go away and to want to go nowhere."

— Sylvia Plath

"They may not have loved you, but they did change you. They taught you. They grew you."
— Bianca Sparacino

"The little things? The little moments? — They aren’t little."

— John Kabat-Zinn

"One of the risks of being quiet is that the other people can fill your silence with their own interpretation: You’re bored. You’re depressed. You’re shy. You’re stuck up. You’re judgmental. When others can’t read us, they write their own story—not always one we choose or that’s true to who we are."

Sunday, 18 December 2016

One of the biggest reasons I love Britain is because we have so many glorious and breath-taking historical sites and country parks on our doorsteps thanks to English Heritage and the National Trust. Shamefully, I don't have a membership with either yet. I don't even have a valid reason why, but I'm going to blame the fact that whenever I think about getting a membership I don't have the funds, and when I do have the funds I'm off buying useless stuff I don't need because I forget about the memberships and... it's a vicious cycle. I know, I'm disappointed in me too. It's on my 2017 list of things to do to have a membership with either the National Trust or English Heritage (or both if I'm feeling reckless).

I love historical sites more than anything. Castles, halls, manors, country estates, and ruins get me so hyped I can't even put it into words. I just love history. I never found it fascinating at school (what kid likes history though?) but now I love it so much I wish I could go back in time and make my 14 year-old self pick history for my year 9 options instead of business studies (which I failed tremendously).

I don't think you realise until you're older just how cool old stuff is.

I decided to make this post because I have unconditional love for this country and its rich history, architectural splendour, and mind-blowingly beautiful landscapes. Here is my list of my 5 favourite places I've visited and loved. In no particular order...

I visited Hardwick Hall (the new hall - pictured above - is owned by NT, but the old hall is owned by EH) in July 2015. I'd been interested to visit for a while since it was kind of local (about 20 miles away), it was featured in a Harry Potter film, and the Elizabethan architecture is gorgeous. We couldn't have picked a better time to visit - the skies were the most vivid blue I'd ever seen, and it was lovely and warm so we spent a good portion of the visit outside in the walled garden and orchard. Worth a visit in any season though; I'd love to go in the winter but only with a layer of snow on the ground, and I'd also like to see the garden in autumn.

Clumber Park is a local one for me. Really local. I've been here more times than I can count. It was always (and still is) the go-to summer destination for walks, swan-feeding, barbecues, and picnics. It's fab for squirrel spotting too, they're so tame. The walk around the lake is a decent one (start at the church, walk clockwise along the path, cross the serpentine bridge, return to the stable yard) and about 1/4 of the way round - but only in the summer - you can grab an ice cream which is pretty great.

Wednesday, 14 December 2016

Hi!

I've been working quite a bit lately so blogging has been pushed back in my list of priorities. Luckily, I have five days off soon starting on Saturday. I go back for two more shifts after that then we're closed until January. I feel so grateful to work somewhere that closes over Christmas because I wasn't as lucky with my last job (nothing makes you feel as un-festive as working Christmas Eve).

I just can't wait to get tomorrow's and Friday's long shifts over and done with because all I can think about is weeeeeewwww time off!!!!

I don't have a great deal planned today. So far I've watched a few YouTube videos and had my breakfast. I think I'm seeing my nan later and paying a visit to dog to see how he's doing, but I don't think I have the energy to get dressed at all today to be honest. Feeling hella lazy, plus the weather looks so drab it's making me tired.

Hope you have a lovely rest of the week.

P.S. Winter sunsets always look so dramatic, I love it. I took the above photo on Sunday evening.

Saturday, 10 December 2016

Need Christmas party/New Year outfit inspiration? I've featured 18(!) glam dresses from all over the web in lots of different styles and colours to suit your tastes. Bit of velvet here, couple o' sequins there, and lots of moody tones perfect for winter. Enjoy!

Thursday, 8 December 2016

I visited my second Christmas market of the season yesterday!

My friend and I were headed to Lincoln initially, but it turns out their Christmas market is only on for four days (boo) and we'd missed it, so we turned to Sheffield instead. I've been wanting to go to Sheffield for months and months - I live nearby, but usually I just stay on the train and head to Meadowhall since it has all my favourite shops in one place. I don't often visit the city centre which is a shame because it's great and it's changed loads since I was last there.

I visited a shop I've been wanting to visit for so long - La Biblioteka, an aesthetically pleasing little store on Pinstone Street that sells indie mags and books (and shares a space with Handpicked Books). I picked up issue 9 of Hole & Corner, and the A/W issue of 91 Magazine. The shop is serious #interiorgoals and the magazines are all so beautifully designed I wish I could've bought them all.

Once we'd walked off our dinner (a classic ol' McDonalds, of course), we had churros (mine smothered in Belgian chocolate 🍫) and wandered around some more, listening to the Christmas music blaring out and generally enjoying the vibe. Sheffield is a fab city, I should really go more often. Next time I'm there I need to check out Moonko and basically every vintage/indie shop around the Devonshire/Division Street area.

If you're ever in Sheffield, make sure to swing by La Biblioteka. It's worth a visit.

Tuesday, 6 December 2016

Hi!

I made a very exciting Cyber Monday purchase last week.

Currys had Instax cameras with £10 off, and seeing as I've been um-ing and ah-ing over buying one for years now, I thought it best I get one now and save myself a couple of quid. I got it in baby pink (I was torn between pink and grape) and I'm so in love I can't put it into words. I've ordered 20 more sheets of film and a case off eBay so I'm just waiting for those to arrive.

The Instax Mini is so easy to use too. You may need to read the instruction booklet to learn how to load the film (I thought I'd be clever and wing it but it turns out I had no clue what I was doing) but everything else is straight forward. There are only really three other things you need to know - how to turn the camera on (not trying to be patronising here), how to take a photo, and how to adjust the brightness dial (which the camera automatically helps you with anyway). Simple.

The first photo I took was of the Christmas tree:

Really happy with how it turned out!

The only down side to the Instax is the film being so expensive. This won't be an every day camera because of that, but I don't want the price of the film to stop me from getting a lot of use out of it. I've asked for lots of extra film for Christmas (this and this one especially) so that should keep me stocked up for a few months. I'd also really love to get an album to keep all my shots in - I love this one from UO.

Once I have a nice collection of photos I'll post them here, although expect most of them to be of the Christmas tree/decorations.

Friday, 2 December 2016

We've decked the halls!

I'm in love with the garland we have this year - last year it sat at the base of the fireplace because we couldn't find anything strong enough to attach it to the mantel and keep it held up, whereas this year we tried using cable clips and somehow it worked perfectly. I think it looks way better on the mantel like this, it looks very traditional. Let's ignore the dangling fairy lights on the end there...

I put a couple of my family's Christmas presents under the tree tonight. I had most of my presents wrapped and ready before December (people are either impressed or disgusted by that fact) so I thought I'd pop them under. I went all out with gift bags this year - I'm an absolute failure when using wrapping paper (it refuses to cooperate with me) so I bag everything and it makes life a million times easier. I bought most of my gift wrap stuff from TK Maxx this year, they have the loveliest gift bags. I'm not sure if they stock much gift wrap online but you'll find a lot in store.

Have you guys put your trees up yet? Some people still think it's too early which kind of baffles me. It's December... it's time, guys. IT'S TIME.

Thursday, 1 December 2016

Watching: Lots and lots of Gilmore Girls. I'm half way through season 6. I haven't been watching much else recently apart from a few gaming videos on YouTube and a vlog or two. Zoella's Vlogmas 2016 starts tomorrow so I'm looking forward to that.

Reading: The same lot of books from last time (I'm the slowest and laziest reader on earth, nice to meet you) and the Christmas issue of The Simple Things (pictured above). Can't believe it's December, it's come around so fast. I feel like I should have finished my 2016 Reading Challenge months ago but I've neglected my books so bad this year.

Eating: Cadbury's Festive Friends - practically a box a day, no lie. I should be embarrassed about that but I don't care, they're so addictive. I urge you to try these biscuits if you haven't already. They look average, but trust me - Cadbury's must put magical dust in them or something because they taste like little bites of heaven.

Drinking: Trop50. It's not as strong and bitter as normal orange juice so I can pretty much down a whole bottle in minutes. Gimme all that Vitamin C.

Loving: The Black Friday/Cyber Monday deals. I'm not usually one for going mad in the sales, whether it's in store or online, but I did get a couple of things from ASOS with 20% off and I got my hands on the new HP Sprocket with about £30 knocked off. The Sprocket has been near impossible to get a hold of recently so I'm chuffed I managed to snag one with a discount.

Feeling: Rather good - it's the 1st of December today so I'm feeling nice and festive, and I'm heading out later with my ma to go shopping (although it probably won't be me doing any actual shopping, seeing as most of my money's gone bye-byes 💸).

Thinking: About the fact that I've not blogged for a few days and I'm completely out of ideas. Whoops. I'm also thinking about how much money I spent yesterday and slightly regretting it. Only slightly.

On an unrelated note, I ordered an Instax camera from Currys yesterday. I got the pink one obviously. It's gone up £10 since I ordered it too so that was lucky...